The stage is set for the commencement of India Aviation 2010, the second edition of the international civil aviation exhibition and conference, at the Begumpet airport here on Wednesday.

As many as 190 companies, including 115 from abroad, representing the who’s who of the aviation industry — including Boeing, Airbus, Cessna, Bombardier, Beechcraft and Bell — are participating in the five-day event from March 3 to 7 to explore business opportunities with prospective customers.

After the success of the first edition in October 2008, India Aviation 2010 will include static and flying display of over 40 aircraft, providing an ideal platform for companies to further their commercial aircraft activities and support services.

The exhibition — the biggest of its kind in the civil aviation sector in the country — is set to offer opportunities to companies that are vying with one another to grab their share of the huge investments being proposed by the government in the aviation sector. The projects include the renewal and building up of the necessary infrastructure in the coming years.

Though the A380 — one of the major attractions of the previous edition — would not be on display, the Boeing 777-300, the large aircraft from Boeing’s stable, several small-sized business jets and a host of choppers will more than compensate its absence.

The first three days of the expo, to be inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, will feature business interactions between delegates from different countries. It will be open for the public on the last two days.

Mr. Patel will hand over the state-of-the-art A320 aircraft to Air India and Indigo, and the Sagar Pawan aircraft of the Navy are set to dazzle the skies with their display at the inaugural.

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